
Navigating Career Transitions: From Nursing to Software Development – Part 2: The Leap
What happens after you leave a career behind? Here’s how I navigated my journey from nursing graduate to aspiring software developer failures, wins, and all.
Embarking on a career change can be both exhilarating and terrifying. It means letting go of the life you thought you wanted and stepping into the unknown, guided only by the hope of finding something more aligned with who you truly are.
In this post, I’m sharing my personal story how I went from graduating as a nurse to pursuing a career in software development. Along the way, I’ll share lessons and reflections for anyone who might be standing at a similar crossroads.
I graduated with a BSc in Adult Nursing in 2021 and became a Registered Nurse. On paper, everything looked perfect. I never failed a module, consistently scored above average, and even had job opportunities before graduating. But inside, I was conflicted. By my second and third years, doubts had already set in. I dreaded clinical placements, felt disconnected from the work, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the sense that I didn’t belong in nursing.
Academically, I performed well. But in practice, I struggled. The fear of being inadequate haunted me, and deep down, I knew I lacked the qualities and values to thrive in the profession. So when job opportunities came, I declined. I told people I was focusing on my final year studies, but the truth was: I wanted to distance myself from nursing completely. That was my first big lesson just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean it’s your purpose.
Letting go of nursing left me with more questions than answers. What was I passionate about? What career could I build now that nursing was no longer an option?
Unlike my peers, I didn’t have a clear dream or long-term plan. For as long as I could remember, whenever people asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I never had a genuine answer. I’m not even sure where nursing came from whether it was me or my parents who leaned into the idea, I can’t say for certain. It’s not like I had any other career in mind. All I knew was that I was “good at science,” which is ironic because I was a student who actually studied Economics, Literature, and Geography.
I’ve asked myself many times: if I could go back, what course would I have chosen? The truth is, I don’t know. I also applied for Biomedical Science at college, but I wasn’t sure where that path would have led either. Looking back, nursing had been the “safe” choice. But without it, I felt lost. This period was full of confusion, regret, and a heavy sense of failure. I had worked so hard, yet here I was adrift.
By my third year, during the height of COVID-19, I was in a rough patch. I seriously contemplated dropping out of university more than once. At my breaking point, I knew I needed to talk to someone unbiased someone who could understand what I was going through.
I still remember a random conversation where someone casually mentioned that with an honours degree, you could do a master’s in any course of your choice. That piece of knowledge spoken so fleetingly became my “Roman Empire.” I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It gave me the courage to explore other fields, and soon I was diving into career quizzes and research.
No matter how many options I looked at, I kept coming back to one interest: tech. I remembered how much I enjoyed Higher Computing Science in high school, how fascinated I was with coding, and how much I loved everything computer-related. It was the only subject I can recall coming home to explore voluntarily I even downloaded VS Code and started coding with no upcoming exams in sight. That was so unlike me, a student who only studied when it mattered.
That realisation was a turning point. It reminded me that even during my nursing years, I gravitated toward tech-related tasks and problem-solving. It wasn’t a brand-new passion it was a buried one. So I decided to test the waters. I joined a web development course with Code First Girls. It was challenging, but unlike nursing, I wasn’t just enduring it I was enjoying it. The creativity, the structure, the problem-solving it all lit a spark. That’s when I knew: this was a path worth pursuing.
I even remember creating a Quora profile and posting about my struggle how I was considering leaving nursing and switching careers. Someone replied, asking: “If you’re leaving nursing after taking the free loan, what makes you think you’ll stick with software development?” At the time, I didn’t have an answer. But now I do. And the truth is: I can’t say for certain how long I’ll stay in software development but what I do know is that I have no regrets. Every step has taught me something, and I’ve always believed I’m not meant to stay in one career forever. There’s too much to learn, too many skills to explore.
Of course, transitions aren’t just emotional they’re financial and practical too. I had to ask myself: How will I afford further studies? Can I balance work and learning? What sacrifices am I willing to make? I started budgeting, looking into scholarships, and considering part-time options. It wasn’t easy, but I reminded myself: this is an investment in my future.
Even with a new direction, the fear didn’t disappear. What if software development turned out like nursing something I thought I wanted but actually didn’t? The truth is, I didn’t have all the answers, and that’s okay. I’ve learned that clarity often comes in motion, not before it. What mattered was that for the first time in years I felt hope and excitement.
Not everyone understood my decision. Nursing is seen as respectable, stable, and secure. Leaving it behind for something uncertain felt reckless to some even to my own parents. Walking away from nursing was one of the hardest and easiest choices I’ve ever made. Easy, because in my heart I knew nursing was never something I was going to keep pursuing. Hard, because leaving it behind made me feel like a failure and deep down, I feared that wherever I ended up next might not work out either.
During my research, I remember watching a YouTube video about choosing careers. One point stood out: “Think back to your childhood and teenage years the times when passion didn’t equal money. What did you genuinely enjoy doing as a kid?” That question didn’t give me a clear answer at the time, but it did make me pause and reflect. It reminded me of the value in looking back and seeing patterns, even if the picture isn’t obvious right away. But at the end of the day, I had to remind myself: it’s my life, my happiness, my peace. Walking away from nursing might have felt like losing security, but in truth, it was the first step toward reclaiming myself.
There were moments when I seriously considered quitting. One of the turning points was talking to a university counsellor. I was exhausted, emotionally drained, and unsure if I had what it took to keep going. They helped me see the bigger picture that my honours degree could open doors, and that I wasn’t stuck forever.
That conversation gave me the motivation to keep going.
When I finally decided to leave nursing behind, not everyone understood especially my parents. It was hard to explain why I was letting go of a “respectable” career for something so unfamiliar.
Nevertheless, I had to trust my instincts. I had to follow my own voice, not anyone else’s expectations. Looking back now, I can say it was the best decision I ever made.
Career transitions are messy. They come with confusion, fear, and sometimes a sense of failure. But they’re also an opportunity to rebuild, rediscover, and realign. If you’re standing at a crossroads right now, here’s what helped me:
Because at the end of the day, peace of mind and purpose are worth more than any pay check.
And so, with nothing but a spark of interest, a heavy dose of uncertainty, and a quiet determination I went for it.
What happens after you leave a career behind? Here’s how I navigated my journey from nursing graduate to aspiring software developer failures, wins, and all.
Raw and unfiltered notes I wrote during Nursing school when I knew deep down this path wasn’t for me. If you feel stuck or unseen, you’re not alone.